The Palestinian factions have renewed their stance towards the Iraeli government and their decision to withdraw from four Palestinian cities in the West Bank, who perceive the Israeli step as a form of ‘deception’ aimed at gaining international opinion. The various groups believe that Israel would not hesitate to make incursions again into the cities from which its army will withdraw in order to assassinate or arrest Palestinian activists.
“When we describe the Israeli move as a form of ‘deception’, we were not prejudging it. We were hoping that their forces would withdraw from all Palestinian land [to the June 4, 1967 border] instead of fragmenting the issue,” Islamic Jihad leader, Khaled al Batsh, told Al Bawaba Sunday.
Moreover, Batch slammed both the political and security agreements the Palestinian Authority and Israel have signed, saying “such agreements do not often give consideration to the interests of the Palestinians. When we labeled the Israeli plans as ‘games’, we were talking from experience.” For example, when the Israeli forces withdrew from Qalqilya on a previous occasion, they came back again and arrested Islamic Jihad activist Akef Nazzal. Two days ago, the Israeli forces also assassinated our commander Mohammad Cider and destroyed his house in Hebron…Israel in fact makes daily withdrawals and incursions into and out of the Palestinian cities and towns including the Gaza strip.”
The Islamic Jihad leader called for complete Israeli withdrawal up to the June 4, 1967 borders.
For its part, the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) has also echoed the same sentiments of the Islamic Jihad. PFLP Member, Kayed al Ghoul, told Al Bawaba, “While we welcome any Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian cities and villages, we think the Israeli move will have no serious effect as the withdrawal will not come as part of an overall plan for total withdrawal from the lands occupied during the 1967 war.”
“Israel tries to show the world that it is implementing the roadmap, but it does so according to its own rules.” said Ghoul, adding that Sharon explained what the Israeli vision of the roadmap was at Aqaba conference. (Albawaba.com)
